Lap report on

Determination of the charge to mass ratio

for the electron

Al Aiham Al Busaidi
129821
Section 10
Abstract
This experiment was aimed to measure the ratio of e/m using two methods. In
the first method we set x and y constant at 2cm and 10cm respectively, and
changed the voltage at difference values, and we calculated the ratio of e/m, we
found it (1.86 ± 0.17 ¿ ×1011 C /kg. While in the second method we set the voltage as
a constant and changed x and y at different values, and we found the ratio of
e/m 1.75 ± 0.41¿ C /kg.

Introduction
this electron can be affected by a magnetic field, these effects can be on the
rang of electrons, its velocity, and its acceleration. In this experiment we will
measure the ratio e/m, and from that we can know “the intensity of the field that
has caused it and the velocity of the electrons” [Laboratory Manual of Experimental
Methods II].

Theory
Every electron moves on an area that has a magnetic field will face a force, and
it is given by:
F=q ( E+ vB )

where E, B and v are the electric field, magnetic field, and the velocity of that
electron respectively. Due to this force, the electron will move in a circular path
if the magnetic field is uniform, and hence the centripetal force will be equal to
force that make him moves in a circle.
m v2
evB=
r

So, we can rewrite this equation:

e v
=
m Br

We know that the kinetic energy of the electron is equal to the work done:
m v2
=eV
2
By eliminating the velocity parameter between these two last equations, we get:

V= ( )
e r2 2
2m
B

One can find the e/m by finding the slope of the straight line of the graph
between V and B2:

( )
er2
2m m
e 2
= ∗r /2

e 2∗slope
=
m r
2

Experimental setup

12V supply: heating the filament to emit the electron

2000V supply: accelerating the electrons
Reversing switch: to reverse the direction of the current

Results and calculations.

Method I.
y = 2cm, x = 10cm.
Voltage I +¿(mA )¿ ∆ I +¿(mA)¿ I −¿(mA)¿ ∆ I −¿(mA )¿ I (mA ) ∆ I (mA ) B(T ) 2 −7
B × 10 (T )
2

2 126.1 2.1 131.9 1.7 129.0 2.0 (3.04704

(5.52 ±0.09) ×10−4± 0.00081)
2.5 140.9 3.2 152.6 1.3 146.8 2.3 (3.944 ±−40.001)
(6.28 ± 0.10)×10
3 154.5 0.7 167.3 3.4 160.9 2.1 (4.733±−40.001)
(6.88 ± 0.10)×10
4 175.8 4.3 193.8 2.4 184.8 3.4 (6.241
(7.90 ± 0.15) ×10±−40.003)
Table (1): this table shows the current values on positive and negative direction in different
values of voltages.

We can calculate the average I by:

N
Ii
I =∑
i=1 N

Ex.
1
I = ( 126.1−131.9 ) ×10−3=129 mA
2

And we can calculate the error by:

∆ I =∆ I I −¿ ¿
+¿+∆ ¿
2

Ex.
2.1+1.7
∆ I= =2.0 ( mA )
2

The magnetic field B can be calculated by:

B=0.724 μ 0 ¿
R

R: effective radius = 0.068m

−7
μ0 =4 π ×10

N: the number of turns of the coil.

R: the effective radius.

And the error of the magnetic field:

 ∆I
∆ B=B
I

Now, we plot the graph of V vs. B2:

Voltage vs. B^2

4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
V(v)

1500
1000
500
0
07 07 07 07 07 07 07 07 07
0E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E- E-
5 00 50 00 50 00 50 00 50
2. 3. 3. 4. 4. 5. 5. 6. 6.
B^2(T^2)

Graph (1): anode voltage (V) Versus square of magnetic field (T)

Calculate ratio of e/m:

2 2
x +y
r= =0.26 m
2y

From graph (1) the slope is:

9
slpoe=( 6.3 ± 0.17 ) ×10

And we can calculate the ratio e/m by this equation:

e slope
=2× 2
m r
9 11
6.3× 10 10 C
¿2× =1.86 ×
0.26 2
kg

e 2∗r∗∆ slope+ 4∗slope∗∆ r

∆ = =0.16
m r3

e ( 1.86 ± 0.16 ) C
=
m kg

Method II.
 X(m) r(m) I +avg (mA ) I −avg (mA ) I avg (mA ) B(T ) B−1 (T −1)
0.1±0.0005 0.260±0.00 140.9±3.2 152.6±1.3 146±2.3 1812
(5.52 ±0.09) ×10 −4
±29
8
0.09±0.0005 0.213±0.006 171.3±2.7 179.9±1.9 175.6±2.3 1290 ±17
(7.75 ± 0.10)×10
−4

0.08±0.0005 0.170±0.005 215.7±3.6 224.9±3.1 220.3±3.4 1060

(9.43 ± 0.14) ×10
−4
±16
0.07±0.0005 0.133±0.004 278.2±3.3 283.5±2.3 280.9±2.8 832 ±14
12.02 ±0.20 ¿ ×10
−4

15.58 ± 0.15¿ ×642

10 ±6
−4
0.06±0.0005 0.100±0.003 362.9±3.6 365.2±3.5 364.1±3.6
0.05±0.0005 0.073±0.003 501.0±6.0 498.3±3.9 499.6±5.0 468−4± 4
21.38 ± 0.21¿ ×10
Table (2): measurement of radius, average voltages, magnetic field and the inverse of it.

- We have set the equation of finding the I ave and B.

The B-1 and its error can be calculated by:
−1 1
B =
B

1 (∆B)
∆ = 2
B B

Ex.
1
=1812 ( T )
−1 −1
B =
( 5.52 ×10 ) −4

−4
1 (0.09 ×10 )
∆ = =29
B (5.52 ×10−4)

We plot the graph of the inverse of B Vs. r:

B-1 (T) VS. r(m)

2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
B-1(T)

1000
800
600
400
200
0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
r(m)

Graph (2): inverse of magnetic field versus radius.

 - The slope of this graph:
slope=( 5920 ±702 ) ( Tm )−1

Now, we will calculate the ratio of e/m and its error:

e 2
=2V ∗slope
m
e 2
∆ =2∗slope ∗∆ V +4 V ∗slope∗∆ slope
m

Where V is the voltage that we have set, it is 2500V.

e 1011 C
=2∗( 2500 )∗( 5920 )=1.75 ×
2
.
m kg
e
∆ =2∗( 5920 )2∗( 0.01 )+ 4 ( 2500 )∗( 5920 )∗(702 ) =0.41× 1011
m

e/m = (1.75±0.41) C/kg.

Discussion.
The physics of this experiment:
We can say from table (1) that there is a linear relationship between voltage and
current. Moreover, we have noticed that as voltage increases the magnetic field
increases. Furthermore, figure (1) indicates that there is a linear relationship
between the square of magnetic field and voltage. Figure (2) indicates that there
is a linear relationship between the inverse of magnetic field and the radius of
the bath of electrons.
Comparing the two values of e/m:
( 1.86± 0.16 ) C
In method I, we found that the e/m = ,and the accepted value of
kg
11
10 C
e/m=( 1.76 ± 0.01 ) × , so the percentage difference between them is 5.6%.
kg
This difference is probably due to the limitation of the apparatus of this
experiment.
In the method II, we found that the e/m = (1.75±0.41) C/kg, which is very close
to the accepted value with difference 0.57% only.